by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
special report
Rahul returns after Sojorn !
“Family” decides No RS Seat for Priyanka
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, March 1
After holidaying in Italy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi returned to India yesterday and took a stock of political situation in the country.
If sources are to be believed, the members of the Gandhi family- Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi- met twice over two days.
These sources told Lokmat today that the issue of sending Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to the Rajkya Sabha was part of the agenda and the Gandhis decided that she will continue to serve in the organization. She will stay away from the parliamentary responsibilities considering the challeneges ahead. Her task has been to strengthen the organization and assist her brother Rahul Gandhi. Whether Rahul Gandhi takes over formally the reins of the party once again or not, he will continue to be the pivot.
With Sonia Gandhi’s frailing health and inability to extensively travel across the country, the responsibility is likely to come to Rahul Gandhi to come to the helms. It is in this background that a view has emerged that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should continue to lay stress on the organizational responsibilities.
It may be mentioned here that a clamour has been growing in the Congress that Priyanka be brought to the Rajya Sabha.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was the first to fire the salvo and write a foral letter to the Congress Interim president that she be sent to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan where the party is set to win two seats.
Later, Kamal Nath and Bhupesh Baghel and even Adhirranjan Chowdhury have jumped into the woo Priyanka campaign. They too want Priyanka in RS. Interestingly, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is reported to have dumped her earlier plans to shift to Lucknow and hire a house on rent to focus completely in UP. She has started campaigning outside the state including Delhi and elsewhere.
The buzz is that Gehlot wants Priyanka be brought to the Rajya Sabha arguing her popularity and charisma be utilized in states other than in UP where she is general secretary incharge of Eastern part. Now
Gehlot even had reported to have met Priyanka recently and sounded her out in this regard. He wants Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to play more active role by entering Rajya Sabha. Rahul Gandhi is already holding the fort in Lok Sabha.
But the Gandhis have decided that she strengthen the oragniation as parliamentary duties are equally demanding.
